Oxford, July 28th – August 9th, 2024 –
In response to the alarming rise of antisemitism and hate speech in European and American universities, particularly in the wake of the October 7th conflict between Israel and Hamas, the international academic community has rallied to address this pressing issue. The surge of antisemitic incidents in cities across Europe and the United States has spurred a collective effort to study and counteract these dangerous trends.
Launch of contemporary antisemitism studies
The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), under the leadership of Dr. Charles Asher Small, has initiated the “Contemporary Antisemitism Studies” project. This initiative brings together some of the world’s most prominent scholars and researchers to the ISGAP-Oxford Summer Institute. From July 28th to August 9th, 2024, these experts will gather in Oxford to engage in an intensive two-week program of lectures and discussions. The focus will be on the history of antisemitism, as well as the rise of new forms, from the far-right to the far-left, alongside Islamist ideologies.
Manel Msalmi: championing human rights and combating discrimination
One of the notable participants in this year’s Summer Institute is Manel Msalmi, a well-known human rights defender based in Brussels, who also leads the European Association for the Defense of Minorities. Msalmi, a researcher in international relations, was selected to participate in the curriculum development on critical antisemitism studies. During the two-week program, she, along with other participants, engaged in seminars with top scholars from the United States, Europe, Israel, the Middle East, and South Asia.
Advocating for peace and dialogue
Msalmi presented her work on promoting gender equality and combating all forms of discrimination, including antisemitism. Her presentation highlighted her commitment to engaging young people in dialogue and coexistence, particularly through projects involving youth from Muslim backgrounds in Belgium and France. These projects aim to address hate speech and advocate for peace and dialogue between communities. She also discussed conferences organized by her NGO, where students from Belgian universities, particularly those of African and Muslim backgrounds, are invited to discuss and address issues such as Islamism, hate speech, online propaganda, and antisemitism.
The challenge ahead: combating hate and promoting cohesion
The recent surge in antisemitic incidents in Belgium, fueled by hate speech, fake news, and social media propaganda, has normalized antisemitism and empowered far-right, far-left, and Islamist ideologies. These ideologies pose a significant threat to liberal values and democracy.
In these challenging times, it is imperative that NGOs, academics, political leaders, youth, and civil society unite to combat separatism, discrimination, and hate speech. Only through collective action can we hope to achieve peace, social cohesion, and bring stability and security to our communities
